Support forming current intake with automatic adjustment of temperature for electric heating apparatus



Dec. 20, 1938. J LOBSTEIN 2,140,756

SUPPORT FORMING CURRENT INTAKE WITH AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT OF TEMPERATURE FOR ELECTRIC HEATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 11, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l JsA/vfiofis TE/N INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1938. .1. LOBSTEIN 2,140,756

SUPPORT FORMING CURRENT INTAKE WITH AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT OF TEMPERATURE FOR ELECTRIC HEATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 11, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Field 1 g 116.5

AL I F F 2 JEANLOEfiTE/ l [NVENTO R ATTO R N 5V5 Dec. 20, 1938. J. LOBSTEIN 2,140,756

SUPPORT FORMING CURRENT INTAKE WITH AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT OF TEMPERATURE FOR ELECTRIC HEATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 11, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG K18 JEANZUES TE/N INVENTOR ATTORNEYS,

.FicsfO Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES SUPPORT FORMING CURRENT INTAKE WITH AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT OF TEM- PERATURE FOR ELECTRIC HEATHVG AP- PARATUS Jean Lobstein, Paris, France Application September 11, 1937, Serial No. 163,368

In France September 26, 1936 4 Claims.

The present invention has for object a support forming, on the one hand, a current intake for electric heating apparatus and, on the other hand, an automatic regulator of the temperature of the apparatus used.

Electric heating apparatus have numerous advantages and that is the reason why they are preferred to any other method of heating, not withstanding the cost, generally higher, of electric calories.

vHowever, the flexible wire which supplies electric apparatus with current, constitutes in many cases, a real hindrance preventing a wider utilization of these apparatus.

For a flat iron, in particular, the supply wire constitutes a constant hindrance during utiliza tion and its rapid wear is a cause of mishaps and even indeed of serious accidents.

Finally, an electric iron, left to itself under voltage, reaches a dangerous temperature leading to the rapid destruction of the heating element, this temperature being sufiicient for causing a fire if the iron is placed on a combustible material, wood, lingerie, etc.

In order to remedy the last-mentioned inconvenience, improved irons have been proposed in which a thermic contact-maker, which in certain cases is adjustable, allows of maintaining the iron at a temperature comprised between two definite limits. However, the necessity of placing the thermic contact-maker within the iron itself leads to the use of a thermic contact-maker of small dimensions and, consequently fragile. Moreover, this contact-maker is subjected to sudden displacements which are imparted to the iron in course of its utilization, this further increasing the possibilities of this contact-maker becoming rapidly deteriorated.

The present invention is adapted to remedy the above mentioned inconveniences and the support forming the subject-matter of said invention is mainly characterized by the combination, in one and the same unit, of a frame forming a platen made of incombustible material for receiving an electric heating apparatus, of a current intake mounted on the frame and adapted to receive the corresponding part of a current intake mounted on said apparatus, and of a thermic contact-maker arranged under the platen but in such a manner that its control member is in contact with the electric heating apparatus.

A form of construction of a support particularly adapted for an electric iron is characterized by the fact that the frame has the general shape of a right angle the horizontal portion of which forms the platen whilst the vertical portion supports the male or female part of the current intake, the platen being provided with an opening obturated by a metal plate which closes a small chamber receiving the electric contact-maker 5 which can be adjustedby a knob placed on the front face of the frame and capable of being moved opposite a graduation.

The invention also extends to different forms of construction and particularly to the following points applied separately or in any combinations.

1. The current intake mounted on the frame and adapted to receive the corresponding part of a current intake mounted on the electric heating apparatus, can be a two-, three-, or four-pole current intake and can be of different types, particularly, of the pin or knife type, or in the form of'a jack or provided with strips or blades.

2. When the electric heating apparatus comprises a small inner thermostat, the support is 0 then solely used as current intake allowing of doing away with the flexible wire.

3. If the electric heating apparatus does not comprise a thermic contact-maker, this contact-maker is provided in the base and it has great responsiveness, its thermic connection with the apparatus to be controlled being effected by a metal sheath having a small calorific inertia.

4. Particularly in the case of heating flat irons, the support includes, in one and the same unit,

a thermostatic support with current intake and an optical or acoustic signalling device.

The invention also extends to other particular points which will appear in the following description, given by way of example only, with 35 reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a general elevation, in axial longitudinal section made according to line ll of Fig. 2, of a support constructed according to the in- 40 vention and on which rests a flat iron provided with a special plug.

Fig. 2 is a front view of two supports joined side by side, the left-hand support being in partial section. 45

Fig. 3 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a special plug.

Fig. 5 is a corresponding side view.

Figs. 6 to 1'7 illustrate various forms of construction of current intakes mounted on the iron 50 and the support.

Figs. 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 are elevations of these current intakes and Figs. 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 are corresponding plan views.

Fig. 18 is a sectional elevation of'a support constructed according to the invention and supporting an electric iron, the section being made according to line XVIIL-XVIH of Fig. 19.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the support.

Fig. 20 is a front view of the support.

The support illustrated by way of example only, is more particularly adapted to receive an electric iron.

This support i, made of incombustible material (metal, ceramic, etc.) has any suitable shape and particularly a horizontal portion I'- forming a platen on which rests the electric heating apparatus such as an iron 2.

The platen 1 comprises a central opening 3 obturated by a metal plate 4 closing a chamber 5 in which is arranged the thermic contactmaker which can be of any type whatever. In the example shown, the thermic contact-maker is constituted by a bimetallic member 5 provided with several contacts I which press against small conducting plates 8 provided with connection terminals 9. The thermic contact-maker can be adjusted in position through the medium of a knob l angularly movable opposite a graduation H and which moves the bimetallic memher 6 in translation relatively to the small plates 8 in order to modify the temperature for which the opening of the supply circuit takes place.

On the pins I 4 of the iron 2 is mounted a special plug l provided, at one end, with contact blades I! automatically engaging with blades l6 secured in the dorsal portion I of the support.

The special plug i5 is more particularly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. This plug I5 is bent and the blades l'l coming incontact with the blades l6, are respectively connected by wires or by inner metal blades l8 to the sockets l8 fitting over the pins ll of the iron. The front portion [5 is removable, and can be secured in position by screws 20.

The current intake has been so devised that the simple movement of placing the iron on its support ensures an excellent contact.

The blades l6 are connected to an ordinary current intake through the medium of flexible wires passing through an opening 2|. It will be noted that the intermediate plug l5 might be made in two parts pivoted about a horizontal pin for allowing angular adjustment between the part fitting over the pins H and the part en gaging between the blades IS.

The operation of the support previously de scribed is the following:

The support I being connected to a source of electric energy, no consumption of current takes place as long as the iron is not placed on this support.

After having placed the iron 2 on the platen l of the support I, as shown in Fig. 1, this iron is immediately supplied with current as the thermic contact-maker which is cold is in position for closing the circuit and the current passes in the heating resistances of the iron.

The temperature of the iron, which gradually increases, is transmitted by conductibility to the member 4 controlling the contact-maker 6 which opens the circuit as soon as the temperature of the iron has reached the limit previously determined by the adjustment of the knob 10. At this moment, the iron is no longer fed with current and will not receive current as long as it has not cooled sufliciently for allowing the thermic contact-maker to return to its position for closing the circuit. A support ensuring the supply of current to the iron and automatically bringing its temperature to a predetermined value is therefore at the disposal of the user. The iron can then be used as a flat iron heated on any heater whatever with, however, this diflerence, that the iron is always clean and at a known temperature.

By providing several supports, as shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, the supply of current to any number of irons can be ensured, whilst however limiting the consumption to that corresponding to the simultaneous use of the supports, that is to say for instance, two supports which can supply {our irons with current with a maximum consumption not exceeding that or two irons.

The current intake, illustrated in Figs. 6 and '1, comprises male plugs Il' secured on the electric heating apparatus 2, and female sockets Ii mounted on the support I.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate another embodiment in which the current intake is constituted by knives Il which can engage between blades l6.

Figs. 10 and 11 show another modification in which the parts [5, carrying the knives 11, are secured in position on the apparatus 2, these knives engaging between blades l6.

Use can also be made (Figs. 12 and 13) of a current intake in the form of a jack, the male part being constituted by a single plug ll comprising an insulator 20. The female part is formed by a socket also comprising an insulating member 2|.

Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate a modification in which the end of the male plug H has a smaller diameter, this plug fitting in a socket IV of corresponding shape.

The current intake can also be constituted by horizontal contacts, formed by blades l1 and [6, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17.

In the case of flat irons, these current intakes generally comprise two poles as shown in Figs. 6 to 17, but they can comprise any number of poles mainly when apparatus of higher power are to be supplied with current.

For obtaining a satisfactory balancing of the circuits, the use of three-pole current intakes can be contemplated in the case of three-phase currents, or of four-pole current intakes in the case of two-phase currents.

As indicated in the preamble, for certain apparatus and when it is not necessary to obtain great accuracy in the adjustment of the temperature, use is made of a thermostat arranged in the body of the apparatus used.

This arrangement allows of using on the support apparatus comprising an inner thermostat and the support constitutes in this case, only a particular arrangement doing away with the flexible supply wire.

On the contrary, when it is desired to obtain great accuracy in the adjustment of the temperature, the thermostat is arranged in the support and in such a manner that it comes directly in contact with the apparatus to be controlled.

In this arrangement, the thermostat (the length of which is as great as possible) is enclosed in a metal sheath on which directly rests the apparatus used: fiat iron, kettle, etc. Such an arrangement is more particularly illustrated in Figs. 18, 19 and 20 of the accompanying drawings.

The support, so-called, more particularly illustrated in these figures, comprises a frame I made of cast iron or other material and is so shaped as to constitute a platen I.

In this support is mounted a thermostat 6 the tubular body 22 or which is enclosed in a metal sheath 4. On this metal sheath rests the base plate of the iron 2 which directly transmits its heat to the body of the thermostat which comprises, moreover, an adjusting device controlled by the knob l0.

The current intake i5 illustrated in this embodiment comprises, for the male part, two conducting knives ll directly secured on the plugs or pins of the iron. The female part is constituted by two jaws l6 secured on the rear part of the frame of hood-like shape I closed at the front by a removable plate 28 for facilitating the internal fitting up of the connections.

The signalling or warning device is herein constituted by a small neon tube or incandescent lamp 29 lighting when the contact of the thermostat is closed (iron in course of heating) and extinguishing as soon as the thermostat has cut oii the current, that is to say, when the iron has reached the desired temperature.

The support can be constructed for satisfying various domestic or industrial requirements.

For domestic requirements, use can be made of a simple support, comprising only one thermostat but which allows, moreover, of ironing without interruption by using two irons, one 0! which is in course of heating while the other is being used.

This arrangement allows or reducing the energy necessary, to that of a single iron but necessitates, on the other hand, the successive heating of both irons from the beginning of the operation.

The double support. as illustrated, avoids this inconvenience by allowing the simultaneous heating of both irons from the beginning of the operation, but of course, the energy necessary is then that of both irons during this period. The effective consumption is not greater than that of the simple support, the two irons being used in turn.

For industrial purposes, the support can comprise any number whatever of irons, each element comprising its thermostat, its current intake and its signalling device peculiar to each iron. The support can then be constituted by a light framework made of section irons on which are mounted the thermostats, the fixed part of the current intakes, the signalling device and'the electric connections.

The irons used on the supports, according to:

power, so that the time required for reheating the iron is equal, or better, shorter than the time required for cooling in order to avoid stoppage in the work.

For satisfying the requirements of this method of utilization, the irons, are provided with armoured heating resistances. The armouring is obtained by a metal casing facilitating heat exchange between the clamping and working plates of the iron.

What I claim as my invention and desire to of the platen and a metal plate obturating said.

recess and constituting the control member of said thermic contact-maker, said plate being in contact with the electric heating apparatus when it rests on the platen of said support.

2. In a support forming current intake with automatic adjustment of temperature for electric heating apparatus, in combination: a frame made of incombustible material of right-angled shape the horizontal portion of which forms a platen comprising a recess, a current intake mounted on the vertical portion of said frame and adapted to receive the corresponding part of a current intake mounted on said apparatus, a thermic contact-maker arranged in said recess of the platen and a metal sheath having a small calorific inertia for said thermic contact-maker, said sheath being in contact with said electric heating apparatus when it rests on the platen of the support.

3. In a support forming current intake as specified in claim 2, the electric contact-maker is adjustable by means of a knob movable opposite a graduation indicating the working temperature chosen.

4. In a support forming current intake as specified in claim 2, the electric heating apparatus is constituted by an electric flat iron, the electric contact-maker is adjustable and said support is combined with a signalling device, preferably a luminous signalling device, indicating that the flat iron has reached the chosen temperature.

JEAN LOBS'IEIN. 

